The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (November 23) launched a public consultation on the proposal to amend Schedule 2 to the Veterinary Surgeons Registration Ordinance (Cap. 529). The proposed amendments aim to permit veterinary students to perform acts of veterinary surgery under direct and continuous supervision of a registered veterinary surgeon, so as to allow proper training of veterinary students. The consultation exercise will last for two months until January 22, 2021, members of public are welcome to give comments on the proposal.
A spokesman said, "The current Schedule 2 to Cap. 529 only permits veterinary students to undergo some of the clinical training. The first cohort of veterinary students of a veterinary school of the City University of Hong Kong will soon enter the academic years of clinical training, they must receive the necessary clinical training to attain the competencies for graduation and practice as a veterinary surgeon. The Government has conducted a review of the current legislation, and proposed the amendment with a view to permitting veterinary students to legally receive the necessary clinical training in Hong Kong."
The consultation document proposes to amend Schedule 2 to Cap. 529 to permit any person who is in full-time study of a veterinary programme at a local or Veterinary Surgeons Board of Hong Kong recognised veterinary school, college or institution, to practise acts of veterinary surgery under the direct and continuous supervision of a registered veterinary surgeon as part of the training requirement under that veterinary programme.
The consultation document has been uploaded to the FHB website (www.fhb.gov.hk) and the AFCD website (www.afcd.gov.hk).
Views and comments from the public and stakeholders should be sent to the Technical Services Division, Inspection and Quarantine Branch of AFCD by post to 5/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon; by fax to 2156 0215; or by email to tsdiq@afcd.gov.hk, by January 22, 2021. Enquiries can be made on 2150 7165 or 2150 6904.
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